The Punjab government is considering expanding its free MDCAT preparation programme.
It has decided to take the step for students enrolled in public colleges to meet the growing demand for the facility.
Under the plan, the provincial government is planning to establish six new preparation centres. Officials say the government will establish centres at major divisional headquarters, enabling maximum students to benefit from free coaching for medical entrance examinations.
A local TV reported that the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI) Colleges has sent prepared the proposal. And sent it to the Higher Education Department for the approval.
“We want to accommodate the increasing number of students seeking quality preparation support for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT),” officials say.
Free MDCAT preparation facilities at 54 centres in Punjab:
Last year, the government has provided free MDCAT preparation facilities at 54 centres across the province. The estimated cost of managing each centre, as per officials, is around Rs100,000.
The programme has been running for the past three years, providing thousands of students with free coaching and academic guidance. The initiative has received a positive response from students and parents, helping them reduce the financial burden of expensive private academies.
The new MDCAT preparation camps are expected to begin from next week after final approval from the Higher Education Department.
The officials said the government is expanding the centres to improve access to professional education opportunities. And, they added, provide students, especially those from less privileged backgrounds, with equal opportunities to compete for medical college admissions.
“The additional centres will increase the reach of the programme. They will ensure that students in different regions of Punjab have access to structured and quality preparation resources.”
Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan divisions have hundreds of expansive academies which poor student could not afford.
